1 Aiken officer killed, 1 wounded in shootout

AIKEN, S.C. (AP) — One Aiken police officer has been killed and another wounded in a shootout that also sent a suspect to the hospital.

Lt. David Turno says the shooting happened before 9 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex.

Turno says 33-year-old Master Public Safety Officer Scotty Richardson died from his wounds. Twenty-eight-year-old Officer Travis Griffin was treated and released after a bullet-proof vest prevented serious injury.

The suspect was wounded and has been taken to the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

Lisa Hintz with Aiken Rescue says those at the agency’s headquarters heard about a dozen shots.

Turno says two other people are being questioned. He says the State Law Enforcement Division is investigating, standard procedure during an officer-involved shooting.

Turno says Richardson had been with the department since 1999.